GB707068A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for loading and unloading articles into andunloading articles into and out of crates - Google Patents

Abstract

707,068. Manifold arrangements for lifting assemblies of bottles. UNITED DAIRIES (LONDON). Ltd., and LUNN. F. M. April 18, 1952 [April. 18, 1951 ; Nov. 22. 1951], Nos. 9076/51 and 27464/51. Class 78 (4) [Also in Group XVII] In an apparatus for loading milk bottles imto compartmented crates as described in Specifications 707,067 and 707,069 the head 13 supports a number of bottle holders each of which has four legs 20 which are adapted to surround a bottle, and four arms 23 which can be moved to the position shown dotted in Fig. 2 to engage the bottom of the bottle. The arms are pivoted about axes 24 by vertical movement of rods 25 which are slidable in legs 20 and are connected by a yoke 26; a spring 50 being provided to urge the arms 23 to the open position shown in full line. An arm closing movement is imparted to each yoke 26 by abutment studs (not shown) secured to an upper head plate 30 (Fig. 6), when the plate 30 is moved downwardly against springs 49 by members 36 secured to levers 35 which are simultaneously pivoted about axes 34a when their free ends are engaged by a member 40. Head suspension brackets 43 secured to the lower head plate 29 support a sleeve 41 in which the member 40 is reciprocated cyclically by a rod 61, a bell-crank 60 (Fig. 1) a Bowden cable 59 and a bell crank 58 co-operating with a cam 55. Each holder is suspended loosely from the lower plate 29 by an accentric stud 22 in such a manner that the holders tend to swing together and so facilitate registration with the compartments in the crate. Co-axial with cam 55 is a cam 51 which, by engaging a follower 53 on the arm 46 effects raising and lowering of the head. In a modificatiorn (not shown) the head may be raised and lowered by fluid pressure. In a further modification (described in the first Provisional Specification only) the arms 23 on each holder are operated by a separate Bowden cable, all the cables being actuated simultaneously by a single control member.